Improvement



A. ZEIGLER.

Gar-Cuuplings.

Patented September 23,1873.

WNEEEEE.

UNI'IEI) STATES PATENT OFFICE ALBERT ZEIGLER, OF OUMBERLAND, MARYLAND.

!MPROVEWIENT IN CAR-CGUPLINGS.

Specification forming pari; of Letters Patent N0. 143,215, daterl September 23,1873; application fi1ed J uly 1, 1873.

T all whom it may ooneem:

Be it known that I, ALBERT ZEIGLER, of Cumberland, in the county of Alleghany and State 0f Maryland, have invented cert-ain 116W and useful Improvements in (Jar-Oouplings; and I hereby declare the following be a fu1l, clear, and exact description 0f the iuvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art t0 Whieh it pertains t0 make and us6 it, reference being had to iahe accompanying dmwings, whieh forxn p2ut 0f this speaificat-ion.

The nature 0f my invention reiates t0 an improvement in self-eavcouplings; Ebl1d it cousists in the arrangement Llld combinanion of parts, whieh Will be more fully set forh hereafter, whereby a simple, cheap, and effective coupling is produced.

Figure 1 is a secuional view of my invention, showing the parts in position, ready 110 be eoup1ed. Fig. 2 is a similar view, showing the paart-s coupled. Fig. 3 is a detail view.

a represents ehe draw-head, construuted in the usual mzmner, and which may be seeured t0 the fraine-work of the cars in aa1y suitab1e manner. In the rear end 0f each l1ead is placed a cylindrieal casing, c, which just fits the bore, and. Whi0h is held in position by the holt and nuo e. Through this casting is made an opening, g, whieh extends nearly its whole length, and which is wider ab its rear end than the fr0nt one. The reeu: end of the opening is made incliued, so as 110 f01'111 a guide or way for the rear end. of the spring-plate z, which has a limited up-and-down movement, eaused by the insertion and withdrawal 0f the link Z. This p1ate is made of a thin sheet 0f meta1, having its rear end formed into a suitable head, l, which catches behind t-he shoulders 2 0f thecasting so as to prevent it from being pu1led out 0f osition, while the front end is eurved upward a-t the mouth 0f the head, so that when the 1ink strikes i1: the link will pass down under it, as shown in Fig. 2, mising the plate upward. upon its top. As soon as the link is withdrawn the spring 3, secured tl1e top of the rear end ofthe plate, forces it downward into position again, as shown in Fig. l. Hooked through the head. 1 is tsl1e link 4, which is eonneeted. to the small pivoted 1ever 5 by a second link, 6, lever 5 having a small projection, 7, formed upon its front end, Which eatohes under tl1e arm 01 lewer 8, to which the coupling-pin 9 is attached. The arm or lever 8 is pivoted upon the same pin as the1ever 5, and 02m be freely swung forward and back, as shown in dotted lines, until it strikes against 1she projeetion 011 the front end 0f 1she lever, whex1 the tw0 Will be moved together.

WVhen the parts are ready to be ooupled the plate Will be held downward. by the pressure 0f he spring 3, which Will eause the links t0 draw the 1ever 5 downward and throw the arm 01 lever 8 upward, holding the pin suspended, as shown in Fig. l. VVhen tahe cars con1e together, and the link is inserted, it raises the plate upward, compressing the spring 3, and slackens qhe connecting-links, so ihm; the Weight 0f the pin is enough v0 draw the lever downward sufficienoly far 130 al1ow it pass through the plate and link l, as. shown in Fig. 2, and bind the ears together.

'I l1e length 0f the casting c Wiil depand upon the length 0f the link used. As shown in Fig. 2, the link passes inbo the head until it abuts up against this casting. Where a short link is used the casting will be lengthened, and where a long 0ne is used it Will bez shortened.

Hzaving thus descriioed m y invention, I claim l. The combin-atiou 0f the plante z, Spring 3, connecuing-links, und levers 5 8 with1the c0upling-pin 9, substantially as described.

2. 'lhe combination of the head a, casting c, plate i, spring 3, links 4 6, levers 5 8, arm 01' projection 7, and pin 9, when all are arranged to 0pemte as speeified.

111- testimony ohat I ciaim Ehe for6going I have hereunto set my band.

ALBERT ZEIGLER.

Witnesses:

F. A. LE]EIMANN, W. G. KENDIG. 

